Smells Like Teen Imprint

By Sue Corbett
|

Sep 26, 2014

In the past five years, more than a dozen new imprints devoted to publishing novels for young adults have opened shop. Some are casting a wide net, with books that span a variety of genres; others are trying to carve a space for themselves in a very specific niche. We asked each publisher to tell us about their focus, and let them brag about the book that’s had the most success to date.

Brag book: Susan Ee’s Penryn & the End of Days series (Angelfall; World After) has generated more than 3,000 Amazon customer reviews.

Capstone/Switch

Launched: 2014 | Titles per year: 10–12

Focus: A wide variety of genres and formats: graphic novels, westerns, romance, illustrated memoir, historical fiction, realistic fiction, science fiction and nonfiction, including how-to. The imprint name was chosen to evoke the ever-changing interests of YA readers, as well as the notion of introducing teens to new ideas.

Brag book: Lois Lane: Fallout (May 2015) by Gwenda Bond, a novel that imagines Superman’s romantic interest during her high school days as a teenage sleuth, is generating strong pre-publication buzz.

Carolrhoda Lab

Launched: 2010 | Titles per year: 8–12

Focus: Distinctive, provocative, boundary-pushing fiction for teens and their sympathizers.

Brag book: No Crystal Stair by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie, won the 2012 Boston Globe Honor Book Award for fiction and was a Coretta Scott King Honor Book.

Brag book: Jesus Jackson by James Ryan Daley (Nov. 2014) received a starred review from Kirkus.

Soho Teen

Launched: 2012 | Titles per year: 10–12

Focus: Compelling mysteries and thrillers for teens.

Brag book: Multiple starred reviews and national media review attention for their lead spring 2014 title, The Unfinished Life of Addison Stone by Adele Griffin.

Sourcebooks Fire

Launched: 2010 | Titles per year: 25

Focus: Innovative storytelling in all genres, written in authentic teen voices.

Brag books: Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally, now in its eighth printing.

Triangle Square Editions/Seven Stories Press

Launched: 2012 | Titles per year: 5–7

Focus: Works of the imagination that combine social justice and good storytelling. Tagline: “Telling personal stories of courage and commitment.”

Brag book: Howard Zinn’s A Young People’s History of the United States is the imprint’s “crown jewel.” It’s not just Triangle Square’s top-selling title, but the top-selling title for the whole company.

Young Europe Books

Launched: 2014 | Titles per year: 2–4

Focus: Books that show the formerly communist Eastern Bloc nations as the setting for beautiful and exciting books organically rooted in a region inspired by a rich cultural history.

Brag book: Petra K and the Blackhearts by M. Henderson Ellis, first of a planned trilogy set in a city like Prague, where dragons have been outlawed by a child dictator.

Zondervan/Blink

Launched: 2013 | Titles per year: 6

Focus: Storytelling that inspires, enriches, and uplifts teen readers. Tagline: “Your next read can be a Blink away.”

Brag book: Firstborn by Lorie Ann Grover has gotten strong reviews, including a star from Kirkus.

A version of this article appeared in the 09/29/2014 issue of Publishers Weekly under the headline: Smells Like Teen Imprint

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